Classification (HAGRID: 03036)

Lifespan, ageing, and relevant traits

Maximum longevity

9.8 years (captivity)

Source

Steven Austad, pers. comm.

Sample size

Small

Data quality

Acceptable

Observations

In the wild, these animals appear to live up to 5 years. In captivity, they have been reported to live more than 9 years [0001]. One captive specimen lived 8.4 years at Tulsa Zoo [0671]. There are anecdotal reports, which may be true, of one animal living 9.8 years in captivity (Steven Austad, pers. comm.). Other estimates suggest they may live over 10 years [0697], but this is unverified.

Life history traits (averages)

Female sexual maturity

123 days

Male sexual maturity

Gestation

30 days

Weaning

24 days

Litter size

5 (viviparous)

Litters per year

3.9

Inter-litter interval

30 days

Weight at birth

40 g

Weight at weaning

118.5 g

Adult weight

1,150 g

Postnatal growth rate

0.0243 days-1 (from Gompertz function)

Maximum longevity residual

68%

Metabolism

No information on metabolism is available.

References

[0671] Richard Weigl (2005), Longevity of Mammals in Captivity; from the Living Collections of the World

[0610] Ernest (2003), Life history characteristics of placental non-volant mammals